Hidden Holiness

Michael Plekon
Foreword by Rowan Williams

In Hidden Holiness, Michael Plekon challenges us to examine the concept of holiness. He argues that both Orthodox and Catholic churches understand saints to be individuals whose lives and deeds are unusual, extraordinary, or miraculous. Such a requirement for sainthood undermines, in his view, one of the basic messages of Christianity: that all people are called to holiness.

Instead of focusing on the ecclesiastical process of recognizing saints, Plekon explores a more ordinary and less noticeable “hidden” holiness, one founded on the calling of all to be prophets and priests and witnesses to the Gospel. As Rowan Williams has insisted, people of faith need to find God’s work in their culture and daily lives. With that in mind, Plekon identifies a fascinatingly diverse group of faithful who exemplify an everyday sanctity, as well as the tools they have used to enact their faith. A generous and expansive treatment of the holy life, accessibly written for all readers, Plekon’s book is sure to inspire us to recognize and celebrate the holiness hidden in the ordinary lives of those around us.

Michael Plekon is a professor in the department of sociology/anthropology and the Program in Religion and Culture at Baruch College, City University of New York, and is an ordained priest in the Orthodox church in America. He is author of Living Icons: Persons of Faith in the Eastern Church (2002) and editor of The Church of the Holy Spirit by Nicholas Afanasiev (2007), both published by University of Notre Dame Press.

“Father Michael Plekon pushes a boundary here. Our usual understanding of those who are saints involves something heroic, something extraordinary—and it allows us to put too comfortable a distance between ourselves and those we consider saints. We are able to look away from the Lord’s demand that we are to be holy, as God is. By focusing on the manifest holiness of a number of people who did not demonstrate such extraordinary heroism, people whose lives nevertheless give witness to the transforming power of the gospel, he challenges all of us to become what our baptism calls us to be.” — John Garvey, author of Seeds of the Word: Orthodox Thinking on Other Religions

“Recent years have seen a great resurgence of interest in the saints—not as legendary heroes or heavenly patrons, but as spiritual companions and models of faithfulness. Michael Plekon writes with compassion and insight about a number of those models. But his great contribution is to highlight a new style of holiness, hidden in the ordinary duties and challenges of everyday life. A profound, ecumenically rich reflection on the meaning of sainthood in our time.” — Robert Ellsberg, author of All Saints

“In Hidden Holiness, Michael Plekon writes about the ways holiness and grace are everywhere, not just located inside church buildings. He writes of people living out their faith. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who wants a relationship with divinity that is creative and ongoing, a religion deeply embodied and unconfined by doctrine and rules.” — Darcey Steinke, author of Easter Everywhere: A Memoir and Jesus Saves

Reviews

“Plekon’s book is a 200-page look at who else should be regarded as an important saint today . . . even if their lives are somewhat controversial—and even if their lives are all but hidden in the pages of history. . . . Plekon doesn’t explore the canonization process in detail. He recommends other good books on that topic. But he does argue that the basic connection between sainthood and popularity may be eliminating some important saintly figures from our spiritual radar.” — readthespirit.com

“The process of beatification and canonization has consistently gone in favor of clergy and religious while excluding, for the most part, married men and women, parents, teachers, other professionals, and social activists. Plekon salutes the humanity and spirituality of Etty Hillesum, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, Simone Weil, and others like them who do not fit the pattern of celebrity sainthood with their flaws, singularity, and ‘holy audacity.’ ” — spiritualityandpractice.com